Handgun brace for mitigating muzzle jump recoil and promoting proper handgun grip positioning
Apparatus and associated methods relate to a handgun brace arranged with a rigid structure extending radially away from a handgun trigger guard, and having a forward-facing surface configured to physically engage with at least one finger of a user's non-primary grip hand in a stable position below the handgun's barrel and in front of the handgun's trigger, such that a counter-force applied by the finger(s) at the forward-facing surface tends to prevent the handgun (especially the muzzle), from rising or rotating in response to shooting, such as due to muzzle jump. In an illustrative example, the brace may be releasably fixed to the handgun (e.g., as a modular handgun accessory). A handgun brace that substantially mitigates the unwanted effects of muzzle jump/recoil may advantageously yield higher shooting accuracy and beneficially promote proper handgun grip positioning.
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This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/508,141, titled “Handgun Brace for Mitigating Muzzle Jump Recoil and Promoting Proper Handgun Grip Positioning,” filed by Richard Lee Miller, on Jul. 10, 2019 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 10,782,092, which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/696,340, titled “Handgun Brace,” filed by Richard Lee Miller, on Jul. 11, 2018 and U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/872,600, titled “Handgun Brace,” filed by Richard Lee Miller, on Jul. 10, 2019.
This application incorporates the entire contents of the foregoing application(s) herein by reference.
TECHNICAL FIELDVarious embodiments relate generally to handgun and pistol accessories.
BACKGROUNDA handgun is a short-barreled firearm that may be held and used with one hand. Handguns have evolved over time from primitive constructions to more modern designs. For example, hand cannons were developed in China, where gunpowder was first developed. Later, various types of “lock” handguns were developed, such as matchlock, wheellock, flintlock, and caplock pistols. Types of modern handguns may include revolvers and semi-automatic pistols, for example.
SUMMARYApparatus and associated methods relate to a handgun brace arranged with a rigid structure extending radially away from a handgun trigger guard, and having a forward-facing surface configured to physically engage with at least one finger of a user's non-primary grip hand in a stable position below the handgun's barrel and in front of the handgun's trigger, such that a counter-force applied by the finger(s) at the forward-facing surface tends to prevent the handgun (especially the muzzle), from rising or rotating in response to shooting, such as due to muzzle jump. In an illustrative example, the brace may be releasably fixed to the handgun (e.g., as a modular handgun accessory). A handgun brace that substantially mitigates the unwanted effects of muzzle jump/recoil may advantageously yield higher shooting accuracy and beneficially promote proper handgun grip positioning.
Various embodiments may achieve one or more advantages. For example, some embodiments may apply a downward force on the handgun that resists upward muzzle jump. Various examples may substantially increase shooting accuracy for a round that is fired immediately after firing a first round. Some implementations may increase accuracy even more for a rapid-fire succession of rounds. In at least some embodiments, a hand brace may be configured to be removably/releasably coupled to a conventional handgun without adapting the existing handgun. For example, a hand brace may be an addition to an existing handgun, where the brace is added without drilling, welding, or otherwise modifying the existing handgun. Various embodiments may aid a shooter in practicing proper shooting grip and technique.
The details of various embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTSIn
As shown in the first state 100A, the handgun 105 includes a handgun grip 105A, a handgun barrel 105B (terminating in a muzzle), a handgun trigger 105C, and a handgun trigger guard 105D. Also shown in the first state 100A is a handgun brace 110 that is decoupled from the handgun 105. The handgun brace 110 includes a handgun coupler 110A configured to mechanically, fixedly, and releasably couple to the handgun 105A. In this exemplary depiction, the handgun coupler 110A mechanically couples to the trigger guard 105D of the handgun 105. A user may mechanically couple the handgun brace 110 to the handgun 105 by fitting (e.g., sliding on) the handgun coupler 110A to the trigger guard 105D, to transition the assembly from the first state 100A into the second state 100B.
The handgun brace 110 further includes a finger engagement surface 110B of a finger engagement member that extends radially away from the trigger guard along a trigger guard radius Rt (shown in the third state 100C at the bottom of
As shown in the third state 100C, a dual-grip handgun assembly (including handgun 105 and handgun brace 110) is shown experiencing the forces resulting from a discharge/firing of the handgun 105. A first (backward recoil) force F1 is applied to along the bore axis B of the barrel 105B, as a result of bullet motion and escaping propellant gases exiting through the muzzle of the handgun 105. A second (forward countering) force F2 is a forward push from a shooter's (primary grip) hand around the grip 105A in response to the first/backward force F1, the force F2 being applied below the bore axis B. The net result of the forces F1 and F2 is to cause the handgun 105 to experience a (clockwise) rotational torque τcw about a center of mass Mcenter of the handgun 105. Accordingly, the rotational torque τcw may cause the firearm to pitch upwards, and the muzzle end of the barrel 105B to rise at an instantaneous velocity vi.
Without the use of the handgun brace 110, repeated shots of the handgun 105 results in successive rotational torque impulses (muzzle jumps) that may rapidly decrease the shooting accuracy of the shooter firing the handgun 105. By employing the handgun brace 110 in cooperation with the handgun 105 however, the finger engagement surface 110B of the handgun brace 110 may provide a third (backwards and downwards) force F3 that may significantly oppose and mitigate the clockwise rotational recoil force τcw. Specifically, the third force F3 may be applied at a radius Rc from the center of mass of the handgun 105. Therefore, the third force F3 may provide a counter-clockwise counter torque τccw that acts opposite to the recoil torque τcw (assuming small or negligible mass of the brace 110 that minimally affects the location of the center of mass Mcenter). Accordingly, a user gripping the dual-grip assembly (that employs the handgun brace 110 in cooperation with the handgun 105) may provide a stabilizing counter torque τccw that may yield additional shooting stability and thus higher shooting accuracy for a shooter.
It is worth noting that the terms clockwise and counter-clockwise may be relative terms, which may be used for the purpose of assigning directionality/oppositeness to different rotational vectors. For example, opposite terminology may be used when a handgun is viewed from the right side as opposed to the left side. The terms forward/backward may refer to longitudinal movement or spacing in a forward/backward direction, as oriented by a longitudinal axis LONG. For example, the muzzle of the handgun 105 may be at the “front,” while the grip 105A of the handgun 105 may be at the “back/rear.” The term lateral may refer to left/right movement or spacing, as oriented by a lateral axis LAT. The term vertical may refer to up/down movement or spacing, as oriented by a vertical axis VERT.
In the exemplary embodiment of
The handgun brace 200 includes a trigger guard engagement surface 225 located adjacent to the slot 206. The trigger guard engagement surface 225 is configured to physically engage with the trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun coupler 205 is operably coupled to the handgun. The handgun brace 200 includes a secondary bridge 230. The secondary bridge 230 extends from the trigger guard engagement surface 225 to the counter recoil torque member 210 to mechanically couple the trigger guard engagement surface 225 with the counter recoil torque member 210, such that the counter recoil torque member 210 is maintained in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the trigger guard engagement surface 225. Such a construction may advantageously provide additional mechanical stability to a dual-grip handgun assembly.
A second embodiment dual-grip handgun assembly 300B includes a handgun 305B and a handgun brace 310B. The handgun brace 310B may be substantially similar to the handgun brace 310A in many respects (e.g., the brace 310B includes a forward-protruding finger dividing member 315B defining a first finger engagement surface 320B (and associated padding 322B), and a second finger engagement surface 325B (and associated padding 328B). However, each brace 310A, 310B may be configured to respectively couple to different handguns 305A, 305B each having differently sized/shaped trigger guards (see discussion below regarding
A second handgun brace 400B includes a handgun coupler 405B having a second dimensioned slot 406B. The handgun brace 400B includes a trigger guard engagement surface 407B located adjacent to the slot 406B. The handgun brace 400B includes a counter recoil torque member 410B. The counter recoil torque member 410B radially extends away from a trigger guard of a handgun (e.g., along the radius Rt in
Although various embodiments have been described with reference to the Figures, other embodiments are possible. For example, the handgun brace 110 may be integrally formed with the handgun 105. In such embodiments, the handgun 105 may include the handgun brace 110 built into the handgun 105. For example, the brace 110 may be molded or manufactured as an integral component with the handgun 105 (such as being a solid and unitary piece or metal or composite material). In some implementations, the brace 110 may be integrally formed with the trigger guard 105D. In various embodiments, the brace 110 may be welded or cast onto a portion of the handgun 105. In an illustrative example, the brace 110 may be formed as a unitary body with the main body of the handgun 110. In such examples, a user may benefit from a handgun that comes “pre-configured” with an integrated brace 110.
A number of implementations have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modification may be made. For example, advantageous results may be achieved if the steps of the disclosed techniques were performed in a different sequence, or if components of the disclosed systems were combined in a different manner, or if the components were supplemented with other components. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. A handgun apparatus comprising:
- a handgun brace comprising: a handgun coupler configured to mechanically and releasably couple to a handgun, such that the handgun brace is rigidly and fixedly coupled to the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, wherein the handgun coupler comprises a trigger guard coupler configured to directly and mechanically couple the handgun brace to a trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun; a counter recoil torque member configured to radially extend away from the trigger guard of the handgun, when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, such that a distal end of the counter recoil torque member is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a barrel of the handgun to at least partially define a finger engagement surface on an upper surface of the distal end, wherein the counter recoil torque member extends along a vertical plane that extends longitudinally along a barrel of a handgun; a rigid bridge that: (1) extends from the handgun coupler to the counter recoil torque member, (2) mechanically couples the handgun coupler with the counter recoil torque member, and (3) and maintains the counter recoil torque member in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the handgun coupler; and wherein when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun and the handgun is discharged, the handgun brace is configured to impart a counter-clockwise counter torque to the handgun resulting from forceable physical engagement between at least the finger engagement surface of the counter recoil torque member and at least one finger of a grip hand of a user, such that the counter-clockwise counter torque at least partially opposes a clockwise recoil torque resulting from the handgun discharge.
2. The handgun apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handgun coupler comprises a fastener configured to fixedly and releasably couple the handgun coupler to the handgun.
3. The handgun apparatus of claim 1, wherein the counter recoil torque member has an at least partially curved cross-sectional profile taken in a vertical and longitudinally extending cross-section.
4. The handgun apparatus of claim 1, wherein the finger-engagement grip surface comprises padding.
5. The handgun apparatus of claim 4, wherein the padding comprises foam padding.
6. The handgun apparatus of claim 1, wherein the handgun brace further comprises a forward-protruding finger dividing member disposed above the finger engagement surface and extending horizontally away from the counter recoil torque member to define a second finger engagement surface disposed above the finger dividing member.
7. The handgun apparatus of claim 6, wherein the finger engagement surface comprises first padding and the second finger engagement surface comprises second padding.
8. The handgun apparatus of claim 1, wherein the trigger guard coupler comprises a slot shaped to receive the trigger guard of the handgun.
9. The handgun apparatus of claim 8, wherein the handgun brace further comprises a trigger guard engagement surface disposed adjacent to the slot and configured to physically engage with the trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun.
10. The handgun apparatus of claim 9, wherein the handgun brace further comprises a secondary bridge that: (1) extends from the trigger guard engagement surface to the counter recoil torque member, (2) mechanically couples the trigger guard engagement surface with the counter recoil torque member, and (3) and maintains the counter recoil torque member in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the trigger guard engagement surface.
11. A handgun apparatus comprising:
- a handgun brace comprising: a handgun coupler configured to mechanically couple to a handgun, such that the handgun brace is rigidly and fixedly coupled to the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun; and a counter recoil torque member that radially extends away from a trigger guard of the handgun, when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, such that a distal end of the counter recoil torque member is oriented in a direction substantially parallel to a barrel of the handgun to at least partially define a finger engagement surface on an upper surface of the distal end, wherein when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, the counter recoil torque member extends along a vertical plane that extends longitudinally along a barrel of a handgun; a rigid bridge that: (1) extends from the handgun coupler to the counter recoil torque member, (2) mechanically couples the handgun coupler with the counter recoil torque member, and (3) and maintains the counter recoil torque member in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the handgun coupler, wherein when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun and the handgun is discharged, the handgun brace is configured to impart a counter-clockwise counter torque to the handgun resulting from forceable physical engagement between the finger engagement surface and at least one finger of a grip hand of a user, such that the counter-clockwise counter torque at least partially opposes a clockwise recoil torque resulting from the handgun discharge.
12. The handgun apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handgun coupler comprises a fastener configured to fixedly and releasably couple the handgun coupler to the handgun.
13. The handgun apparatus of claim 11, wherein the finger engagement surface comprises padding.
14. The handgun apparatus of claim 11, wherein the handgun brace further comprises a forward-protruding finger dividing member disposed above the finger engagement surface and extending horizontally away from the counter recoil torque member to define a second finger engagement surface disposed above the finger dividing member.
15. The handgun apparatus of claim 14, wherein the finger engagement surface comprises first padding and the second finger engagement surface comprises second padding.
16. A handgun apparatus comprising:
- a handgun; and,
- a handgun brace comprising: a handgun coupler configured to mechanically couple to the handgun, such that the handgun brace is rigidly and fixedly coupled to the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun; a counter recoil torque member that radially extends away from a trigger guard of the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, wherein when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun, the counter recoil torque member extends along a vertical plane that extends longitudinally along a barrel of a handgun; and a rigid bridge that: (1) extends from the handgun coupler to the counter recoil torque member, (2) mechanically couples the handgun coupler with the counter recoil torque member, and (3) and maintains the counter recoil torque member in a fixed spatial relationship relative to the handgun coupler; wherein when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun and the handgun is discharged, the handgun brace is configured to impart a counter-clockwise counter torque to the handgun resulting from forceable physical engagement between a non-primary grip hand engagement surface of the counter recoil torque member and at least one finger of a non-primary grip hand of a user, such that the counter-clockwise counter torque at least partially opposes a clockwise recoil torque resulting from the handgun discharge.
17. The handgun apparatus of claim 16, wherein the handgun coupler is releasably coupled to the handgun when the handgun coupler is operably coupled to the handgun.
18. The handgun apparatus of claim 16, wherein the handgun brace is integrally and unitarily formed with the handgun.
19. The handgun apparatus of claim 16, wherein the finger engagement surface comprises padding.
20. The handgun apparatus of claim 16, wherein the handgun brace further comprises a forward-protruding finger dividing member disposed above the finger engagement surface and extending horizontally away from the counter recoil torque member to define a second finger engagement surface disposed above the finger dividing member.
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Type: Grant
Filed: Aug 19, 2020
Date of Patent: Nov 23, 2021
Patent Publication Number: 20210025670
Assignee: R MILLER & ASSOCIATES, INC. (Dripping Springs, TX)
Inventor: Richard Lee Miller (Dripping Springs, TX)
Primary Examiner: Bret Hayes
Application Number: 16/997,071